[hurtuvac78]

>The Mac App Store should already be safe, as users are free to download and install apps direct from developers

Not a Mac user/dev here. If I am not going through the store, if I don't use xcode to sign my executable, won't MacOS force the user to go through cryptic command line changes to let them install my software?

[stetrain]

For unsigned apps you have to go into Settings > Security and click a button to allow the app to run.

For signed apps there's no extra step needed by default.

[lights0123]

Unless it's changed recently, it's just a right-click and then Open on the app. Older versions let you select radio box in the Security tab in the settings app to allow all apps.

[josephcsible]

That sounds misleadingly easy. The misleading part is that if you yep to open it the normal way, instead of getting an error that tells you that you can do that, you get an error that makes it sound like the developer did something wrong and there's nothing you can do.

[turquoisevar]

Yeah there are two ways around it. One is right click and open and the other one is allowing it in security settings.